Antonio Aquitania: Pedaling Towards the Top

We see him as a funny guy on television. And he's also one of the Kapuso Network's resident hotties. But little is known about what he does off-cam. During a one-on-one interview with the intrguing actor, iGMA discovered that the resident hunk of Bubble Gang is not only a comedian, he is also a cyclist! Antonio is nuts about bikes! In fact, every chance he gets, he hops on his bicycle and rides towards any direction his heart desires. His passion for bikes is as intense as his passion for showbiz. Text by KC Abalos. “Sobrang saya!” This is how Antonio Aquitaniadescribes the feeling of cycling towards the top of a mountain. Antonio has certainly found his niche in the already overwhelming world of show business. This handsome guy has been tickling our funny bones for more than 10 years through Bubble Gang. He shares, “Nakaka-stress sa akin kapag late na natatapos yung taping tapos ang call time mo the next day, 8 am. Lalo na buong araw na naman yung taping.” Not that he is complaining. With one successful show under his belt and other projects, Antonio is thankful for the jobs he has been blessed with. But he, himself, admits that it can get quite tiring. But when the bright lights begin to encroach on his personal space, he escapes by grabbing his specialized bike and pedals his way out of stress and worry! Together with pals such as Richard Gomez, John Estrada, and DirectorDominic Zapata , Antonio has explored the hills and mountains surrounding the metropolis. Examples of which are the areas of Sta. Rosa in Laguna and Montalban in Rizal. With a group of 7-6 members, depending on their schedule, they plan a route that takes them away from the hustle & bustle of their glamorous lives. “Kapag naakyat ko yung pinaka-tuktok ng bundok, ang sarap ng feeling. Kasi wala kang telepono, walang signal, so kayo lang. Yuon ang pinaka-masarap na feeling” he describes with a wide smile. How does he prepare for his weekend jaunts? He answers, “Kapag kaya ko ng Saturday or Sunday, the best yun. Kailangan Saturday pa lang tulog na ako ng maaga. Prepare ko na bike ko. Gising ako ng maaga. Yung breakfast ko ako na bahala.” He conditions his body by jogging the day before and by visiting the gym as many times as he can even with his hectic schedule. He never rides without the essentials. “Backpack ko, power bar, helmet- important yun, gloves, Camelbak.” Camelbaks are hydration packs made to keep water bottles. These are necessary water packs especially in extreme sports activities. The longest distance he has ever covered is from San Juan, Metro Manila to Tagaytay in Batangas. He left at 6am from Broadway Centrum and arrived just in time for lunch at a popular restaurant along the famous Tagaytay Ridge. “Premyo ko na lang doon, kakain ako ng bulalo. Pauwi naman pick up na ako noon” referring to his buddies who were there to greet him and take him home in the much-deserved comfort of a car. One would wonder why he chooses to spend his precious free time doing something so difficult. But for Antonio, “Okay lang naman kapag nandoon ka na. Enjoy mo na yung bundok eh. Dere-derecho na yun, kahit gaano kalayo. Tapos parang feeling ko fit na fit ako kasi ang layo ng nararating ko.” And truly, Antonio has traveled a great distance already, literally and figuratively. Whether Antonio is riding along the rough road of life or traversing the steepness of a hillside, it is obvious that his optimistic attitude and humility will see him through. Catch Antonio Aquitania and the rest of the wacky gang in Bubble Gang, Fridays after StarStruck: The Next Level. Ka-Fanatxt niyo ba si Tonio? Text ANTONIO[Your Message] and send to 4627 for Globe, TM, Sun, Smart and Talk ‘N Text. 2.50 php per message.